Agapanthus hybrid plant named &#39;LMAggie1&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘LMAggie1’ is a distinctive  Agapanthus hybrid  seedling selection, which is characterized by evergreen foliage, a short plant height, a short inflorescence height and dark purple flowers.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the novel variety disclosed herein is Agapanthushybrid ‘LMAggie1’.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Agapanthus hybrid disclosed herein has beengiven the variety denomination ‘LMAggie1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofAgapanthus hybrid, which has been named ‘LMAggie1’. Its market class isthat of an ornamental flowering perennial. Agapanthus, commonly called“lily of the Nile”, is a flowering perennial native to South Africa thatforms clumps of dark green strap-like leaves. In summer, umbels riseabove the foliage which bear numerous flowers in colors ranging frompale violet to dark purple. Its consistent size and performance,combined with its attractive inflorescences through its hardiness rangemake it an ideal choice for specimen, borders and mass plantings in anyfull to filtered sun to shady, low-maintenance landscape or container.

Parentage

The cultivar ‘LMAggie1’ is a seedling selection resulting from thecontrolled pollination of seed parent Agapanthus praecox subsp. minimus(unnamed and unpatented) and pollen parent Agapanthus hybrid ‘MoodIndigo’ (unpatented) performed at a residence in Lake Mathews, Calif. in2004. Said seedling was first observed in 2005 and was noted asexhibiting evergreen foliage, a short plant height, and a shortinflorescence height like that of the seed parent, but possessing darkpurple flowers like those of the pollen parent. Said seedling wasisolated for further observation and was subsequently grown andasexually propagated through many generations from 2005 until 2014, atwhich time it was determined that the characteristics for which it wasoriginally selected were uniform and stable. The new plant was given thename ‘LMAggie1’.

Asexual Reproduction

‘LMAggie1’ wasfirst asexually propagated by dividing the root-bearing,rhizomatous propagules of the plant (i.e. “division cloning”) in 2005 inLake Matthews, Calif. and has since been asexually propagated throughnine subsequent generations. The distinctive characteristics of theinventive ‘LMAggie1’ variety are stable from generation to generation;clones of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain thedistinguishing characteristics of the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘LMAggie1’ is a distinctive Agapanthus hybrid seedling selection, whichis characterized by evergreen foliage, a short plant height, a shortinflorescence height and dark purple flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary ‘LMAggie1’ specimen, approximately 12 monthsof age, grown in ground.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary umbel of ‘LMAggie1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctAgapanthus hybrid seedling selection known as ‘LMAggie1’. Unlessindicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based uponobservations made in May 2014 of mature ‘LMAggie1’ plants, approximately12 months of age, grown in-ground at a residence in Perris, Calif.Plants were grown in full sun; fertilized with slow release granularfertilizer and regularly watered with overhead irrigation. No pest ordisease measures were taken during production.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘LMAggie1’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 1986 edition. Note that generic colordescriptions such as “green” do not exist in the RHS charts and thecorresponding RHS colors are quoted.

The distinguishing features and other characteristics of Agapanthushybrid ‘LMAggie1’ are apparent from the description provided below.

-   Growth habit, dimensions and color:-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with an            arching habit.        -   Height.—22 cm to the tallest leaf with the majority of            foliage at or below 20 cm, as measured.        -   Width.—35 cm, as measured.        -   Bloom period.—Spring.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 9 to 10.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Prefers to be grown in full sun.            Drought tolerant once established; moderate to good recovery            with watering after severe wilting. Tolerates a wide range            of soil types from sandy loam to loamy clay.        -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—In common            with the species, none of note.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished through division of            rhizomes.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 3 weeks.        -   Crop time.—Depending on latitude of and microclimate of            growing location, a fully rooted cutting requires            approximately 3 months with an additional 5 to 7 months            needed to produce a mature and marketable 15 cm container.-   Roots: The roots are fibrous and freely-branched, colored white,    fleshy, similar to other Agapanthus; high root density.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Acaulescent, rhizomatous plant with shoots            emerging from rhizomes with an upright attitude.-   Basal shoots:    -   -   Shoots density.—7 divisions, or propagules, per one square            foot area, with the oldest propagules near the center of the            plant's crown possessing 10 to 12 leaves and shoots of            varying ages and sizes.        -   Shoot strength.—Medium.        -   Cross section.—Concave.        -   Shoot color (adaxial & abaxial surfaces).—Green (RHS 143C).        -   Shoot surface texture.—Smooth.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Arrangement.—Basal.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attitude.—Arched.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Sheathed.        -   Cross section.—Flat.        -   Venation.—Parallel.        -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—same as surrounding foliage.        -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—same as surrounding foliage.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Attachment.—Acaulescent.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glossy.        -   Surface hairiness (adaxial surface).—Glabrous.        -   Surfaces hairiness (abaxial surface).—Glabrous.        -   Mature leaf dimensions.—longest observed leaf measuring            length 320 mm, average width 15.5 mm at widest point.        -   Mature leaf color (adaxial & abaxial surface).—Yellow green            (RHS 146B).        -   Petiole.—Leaves are acaulescent; sessile.        -   Stipules.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Umbellate.        -   Umbel diameter.—Largest observed is 11 cm wide.        -   Number of umbels per pot.—potentially one inflorescence per            division.        -   Number of flowers per umbel.—Ranging from 30 to 45 flowers.        -   Scape dimensions.—Largest observed measuring at 40 cm tall            and 6 mm wide at the base.        -   Other characteristics of scape.—Color is yellow green (RHS            144A); cylindrical shape; texture is smooth; glabrous.-   Buds:    -   -   Bud shape.—Obelliptic; apex round; base cuneate.        -   Bud dimensions.—35 mm long and 7 mm wide, prior to anthesis.        -   Bud color.—Appearing as a combination of purple 79A (RHS            79A), purple (RHS 79B) and violet (RHS 83A).        -   Bud texture.—Glabrous.-   Flowers:    -   -   General.—Apetalous flowers; shape is campanulate;            self-cleaning and non-fragrant. Attitude is upward and            outward. Bloom period is spring and summer.        -   Pedicel dimensions.—16 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, as measured.        -   Pedicel color.—A combination of yellow green (RHS 144A) and            purple (RHS 79A).        -   Pedicel surface.—Glabrous.        -   Perianth dimensions.—approximately 28 mm wide and 35 mm            long, at anthesis.        -   Tepals.—Six basally fused tepals.        -   Tepal shape.—Oblanceolate; apex is round.        -   Tepal dimensions.—37 mm long and 7 mm wide, as measured.        -   Outer tepal color.—Purple (RHS 79B), yet appearing as violet            (RHS 86A) under high light exposure.        -   Inner tepal color.—Purple (RHS 79B) at both the midrib and            the margins with purple (RHS 76D) in areas between margins            and midrib.        -   Tepal surface.—Smooth; glabrous.        -   Tepal margin.—Entire.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Six.        -   Stamen attachment.—Each is adnate to a corresponding tepal.        -   Filament color.—Purple (RHS 76C) at base, becoming Purple            (RHS 76B) near apex.        -   Filament dimensions.—23 mm long and less than 1 mm wide.        -   Anther attachment.—Versatile.        -   Anther dimensions.—4 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.        -   Anther color.—Appearing as a mixture of black (RHS 202A) and            purple (RHS 79A).        -   Pollen.—Present; high quantity; color appears to be a            mixture of black (RHS 202A) and purple (RHS 79A).        -   Pistil.—One.        -   Pistil dimensions.—14 mm long, from apex of ovary; width is            approximately 1 mm.        -   Pistil color.—Purple (RHS 76C) at base, becoming Purple (RHS            76B) near apex.        -   Ovary shape.—Oblong.        -   Ovary color.—Yellow-green (RHS 150B).        -   Ovary dimensions.—10 mm long and 2.5 mm wide.        -   Ovary position.—Superior.-   Fruit and seeds: Not observed.

Comparisons with other Agapanthus

‘LMAggie1’ is most similar to the seed parent, Agapanthus praecox subsp.minimus, in that both are characterized by evergreen foliage, similaroverall plant height, similar inflorescence height and similar flowercount. However, there are several characteristics that distinguish‘LMAggie1’ from the seed parent. The flowers of ‘LMAggie1’ are darkpurple (RHS 79B) whereas the flowers of the seed parent are described asa pale violet blue, approximated to violet blue (RHS 92C) on the outerperianth. The flower count of ‘LMAggie1’ ranges from 30 to 45 flowerswhereas the flower count of the seed parent is lower, ranging from 20 to30 flowers. The leaves of ‘LMAggie1’ are 15.5 mm wide whereas the leavesof the seed parent are 12.5 mm wide. The leaf cross section of‘LMAggie1’ is flat whereas the seed parent is slightly folded adaxiallyat the midrib. The plant habit of ‘LMAggie1’ is arching whereas thehabit of the seed parent is weeping.

‘LMAggie1’ is similar to the pollen parent, Agapanthus hybrid ‘MoodIndigo’, in that both have dark purple flowers and a similar number offlowers per umbel. However there are characteristics that distinguish‘LMAggie1’ from ‘Mood Indigo’. ‘LMAggie1’ is an evergreen perennialwhereas ‘Mood Indigo’ is deciduous. The flower attitude of ‘LMAggie1’ isupward and outward whereas the flowers of ‘Mood Indigo’ are pendulous.

With respect to commercial varieties, there are no varieties known tothe breeder that exhibit the combination of dark purple flowers, shortfoliage height and short inflorescence height of ‘LMAggie1’. There areseveral Agapanthus cultivars that are described to have dark violetflowers like those of ‘LMAggie1’ however each of these varieties exhibitinflorescences that are taller than that of ‘LMAggie1’: Agapanthus‘Northern Star’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,957), is reported to exhibitfoliage height of 60 cm and a scape length of 100 cm; Agapanthus ‘Senna’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,972) is reported to exhibit foliage dimensionsof 30 cm tall and over 40 cm wide with an overall height, in flower, of96 cm; and, Agapanthus ‘Elaine’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,303) is describedto exhibit an overall height, in flower, of 130 cm.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Agapanthus hybrid plantselection named ‘LMAggie1’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.